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A “once in a lifetime” drought

Indiana’s drought conditions continue to worsen in areas.

According to the latest US Drought monitor 100 percent of Indiana is experiencing at least some level of drought.  Last week almost 19 percent of the state was listed in the D4 or exceptional drought category, the latest map shows nearly 25 percent of the state is in D4. 

Associate state climatologist Ken Scheeringa says their office actually recommended a larger portion of the state be classified as D4.  “Over the last couple of weeks, the rainfall that we do get, tends to miss west-central Indiana over and over,” he says.  “We’ll receive a few sprinkles here and there – but it tends to go to the north of that portion of the state fairly consistently.” 

However, Scheeringa tells Brownfield drought conditions in some areas of the state have improved. 

In the long-term – he says he doesn’t anticipate the drought ending anytime soon.  “I would call it a once in a lifetime type drought,” he says.  “As far as when is this thing finally going to start moving out of here?”  Scheeringa says not for a while.  “The longer range forecasts that the weather service is putting out are actually projecting this drought to go into November.”

AUDIO: Ken Scheeringa, Associate State Climatologist (5:51mp3)